Friday 10 October 2014 15:01, UK
Cue Card is on course to make his seasonal reappearance in next month's Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.
The eight-year-old finished a creditable third in the Grade Two contest at the start of last season, before clinching the Betfair Chase at Haydock and he is set to follow the same route at the start of the new campaign.
He has been sidelined by injury since filling the runner-up spot in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last Christmas, but trainer Colin Tizzard could not be happier with his stable star's condition ahead of his return on November 5.
"He's back doing three-quarter (speed) pieces and he'll almost certainly go to the Haldon Gold Cup as a very good prep race for the Betfair Chase. He's in lovely form," Tizzard told At The Races.
"We obviously backed off after the King George and getting him ready for Cheltenham he was lame one day.
"It was only a minor stress fracture. If you had it at the beginning of the season you could race later on, but it stopped us for the spring.
"He's been a fantastic horse and I can't see any reason why he shouldn't be as good as ever. He's very enthusiastic at the moment and looks a picture."
Following the retirement of the trainer's son Joe, Daryl Jacob is set to take over riding duties aboard Cue Card this season.
